Three women caught in Rs 4.4 Cr heroin bust in East Jaintia Hills

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 17, 2025

Three Manipuri women and a man were arrested with heroin worth over Rs 4.4 crore by the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), Meghalaya, and East Jaintia Hills District Police in two separate operations on Sunday.

Kimnei (33), Dimkhothing (47), and Ngaiting (40), all residents of Khongjom, Manipur were arrested at Umkiang Police Patrol Post.

Acting on credible intelligence received on the night of August 16, the team set up a naka at Umkiang to intercept a vehicle traveling from Churachandpur, Manipur to Shillong. At around 11:00 AM on August 17, a Maruti Suzuki S-Presso was stopped, and a search in the presence of independent witnesses recovered four travel bags containing 961.33 grams (80 soap boxes) of heroin, valued at approximately Rs 4 crore in the illegal market.

“The arrested women are suspected to be part of a larger inter-state drug syndicate that transports heroin from Manipur to Shillong and onward to other parts of India,” stated Superintendent of Police Vikash Kumar.

In a separate operation at Byndihati village under Khliehriat PS, based on intelligence received on the night of August 16, the ANTF and local police set up a naka to intercept a passenger bus traveling from Churachandpur to Shillong. At approximately 2:15 PM on August 17, Isak L. Joute (26) of Madanriting, Shillong, East Khasi Hills, was apprehended, and 91.86 grams (9 soap boxes) of heroin, worth around Rs 40 lakh, were recovered.

Cases have been registered at Lumshnong and Khliehriat Police Stations under the NDPS Act. Investigations are ongoing to trace backward and forward linkages and uncover the full network of the inter-state syndicate.

SP Vikash Kumar appealed to the public to provide any information on other miscreants involved in these illegal activities, assuring confidentiality and suitable rewards.